The NFL has confirmed that the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles will retain all their draft picks for this year's event in Detroit, as investigations into alleged tampering by both teams won't conclude before the draft.
The Falcons and Eagles are under scrutiny over free agent signings Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley, with claims of impermissible contact with the players. If found guilty, they could lose draft picks, a fate suffered by the Miami Dolphins in this and last year's draft.
Cousins and Barkley inked deals with their new clubs on the first day of free agency this spring. Cousins secured a four-year contract potentially worth $180 million with Atlanta after failing to agree an extension with the Minnesota Vikings.
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Barkley, on the other hand, agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with Philadelphia following a similar deadlock in negotiations with the New York Giants.
ESPN reported on Monday that the Falcons are likely to face harsher sanctions from the league than the Eagles. Losing draft picks is expected to be part of any punishment, but such penalties will not affect this year's draft.
Atlanta has eight picks, including the No. 8 overall selection alongside Nos. 43, 74, 79, 109, 143, 187 and 197. Philadelphia also holds eight: Nos. 22, 50, 53, 120, 161, 171, 172 and 210.
The league has a track record of wrapping up its investigations before the draft, as seen last year with the Arizona Cardinals' appointment of former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as their new head coach. In a dramatic twist just minutes before the draft kicked off, the Philadelphia Eagles managed to negotiate a trade that saw them swap third-round picks with the Cardinals.
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However, this time around, things are set to be different. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot opened up about the ongoing situation during a press conference on Tuesday, saying, "The league has been very communicative with us, and throughout the whole process," and expressing his gratitude.
"Really appreciate them. And we've obviously cooperated, provided all the information. Again, not really an update from our end in regards to that. We'll just continue to cooperate and control what you can control. We're gearing up for this draft."
Falcons owner Arthur Blank also weighed in at the NFL's annual meeting, stating, "We obviously don't believe we tampered," The allegations against Atlanta have gained extra attention due to public remarks from Cousins hinting at possible tampering.
Cousins praised the organisation during his introductory press conference, saying, "There's great people here," and didn't stop there. "And it's not just the football team."
He went on to detail his interactions, adding, "I mean, I'm looking at the support staff. Meeting -- calling, yesterday, calling our head athletic trainer, talking to our head of P.R."
The Eagles have refuted any allegations of misconduct following remarks from Barkley's ex-Penn State coach, James Franklin. "For him now to come back and be able to play within the state, in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things that [Philadelphia general manager] Howie [Roseman] said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him," Franklin revealed last month.